Leo's eyes shot open, his sweaty face glanced around the room he now found himself in. A man gently coughs."Good, you're awake." His tone is old and wise. Leo shot his head around to look at the voice. It belongs to a man with a tough gray bearded face that gives off a sense of warmth putting Leo's heart at ease. "Thought you were dead for a good minute, but I suppose you got lucky that I was coming back to town." The man crossed his arms in a kind fashion.
"I, I, I don't understand." Leo said deliriously. "Where am I?"
"This is my lodging, nice isn't it." The man chuckled.
"Why," Leo questioned, "didn't you take me to a hospital."
He chuckles wholesomely again. "You won't find a better healer this side of the continent. Perhaps I'm being humble, most call me the best in the world. I believe you'll know me as Saints Hand."
The name of Saints Hand is one of the most legendary, although some doubt his gifts, he's widely accepted as the best healer to ever live. However rumor says he gave that all up to live a simple life.
"You know kid, I started an academy a year back, and I could use a martial artist to teach. Seeing how well you took that hydra venom, you seem like a good fit." Saints Hand recommended with a suggestive wink.
Leo didn't know what to say to this. All his mind could string together is, "oh", with a look of confusion blatantly stamped on his face.
Saints Hand closed his palms together, and with a relaxingly dignified tone spoke. "Yes, yes. What an offer, except there is a condition, I will test you tomorrow. If you succeed, great!" Saints Hand's face darkened. "If you lose, as medical expenses, you must pay me a million. What can I say, my services don't come cheap."
Leo's face turned pale white. "A million?" He mumbled.
Saints Hand stood from his old fashion rocking chair. With smooth grace he opened the door, and with one last glance, the kind of glance someone takes at a friend's tombstone, a somber remorseful glance, Saints hand left.
Leo knew he did not have any money, let alone a million. And yet those filthy words echo through his head. "I'm dead," he began to cry into his hands. The realization finally struck home. Leo stumbled to his feet just to have them collapse like the house of cards that was his life. His face hit the floor with a hard thump. He laid there unmoving, sobbing like no grown man should. In time he ran dry and pushed himself back onto the bed.
"One million, one million, one million, one million." He shook himself back and forth. The thought of winning the test didn't even enter his mind. Too focused on his inevitable doom.
Inevitably the morning came, and he had to leave the sleepless night behind him.